Journal box structure for railway vehicles



Dec- 27, 1949 A. K. STRANDBERG JOURNAL BOX STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAYVEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 20, 1947 FIC; 2

F Gf).

Il wi www? INVENTOR ALBIN K- STRANDBERG BY f ATTO Dec. 27, 1949 l A. K.STRANDBERG 2,492,717

JOURNAL BOX STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1949 fuNsiTfen {str-Ares PATENT`or,Fi-cril .TJ OIIRNALIBOIL- STRUCTUREiEORiRAILWALY VEHICLES iAlbinStrandberg, Norveli., )Pa ..ass gn or 'to American {Locomotive Company,`-N ew rork, -iN. Y., afcorporationr of 'New '-Y ork.application-Eenmaal), leinseriaiNo. tze-.8.68

This invention relates ,tojonrnal boxstruetures for railway Vehicles,and.moreLparticularlyltoV an articulated closure lid structure therefor.

.The invention` has particular .reference 'to l...an improved rclosurelid. vstructure .of .the L Character specified wherein ,a .resilient.member normally receiving closure -`pressure at its axial center 11Sarranged centrally of a ,lid `for transmissiqn .of the closure pressure.to .thenuter faceof the; lid in regions adjacent the marginaledgespfthe journal. box. access, opening.

. More specally, Vthe intention. has reference to an improvedcloslirellid structure .whereinthe lid is provided with a large ,central QOQKSOpening outwardly, vand .a large springnis, .suhas a .Belleville vtype,spring disc, isyieldablysecured to the centen of thellidoncentriowiththe P OQliet wherebypnlythe marginal portion Aof fthe'disc' is in contact 4with ,the Ali,c l,. ,tl'1,e vdepending end of apvoted lid--Slipporting :hoed '..heirig .attached centrally. of the.spring dise so ,that pressure is brought to bear thereon under theinuence vof a closure spring, lic,o-uperatively associated lwith thehood andjournal; box, and such pressure; is transmitted by the springdisc'to the closure :lid at points` thereon in vvclose proximity tothemarginal edges oftheaccessopening;of thebox.

.When railway truck Wheels ride overregularly spaced railjointsLregularnshoclspr upward .accelerations .occur whichare'transmitte'd"by"the journal looxv to the li'dgassenibly,especiallmfnthe case of conventionalili-d assemblies, to'the hood and.main pressure springparts, vlarid "the inertia forces developedi-py'these accelerations will'cause the lid to vibrate and pound'onthesurfaces surrounding thejournal box access opening.

These pounding "vibrations yare harmful and should be subdued orprevented 'because Vthey cause local Wear alongthepsurface of "the nboxabout the` access opening,d wear ofthe; hoodeyes upon the-hinge pintle,wear at `all pointsof contact of themain pressure spring, and ,wearpnthe spring roller an'd 'lug' cam face ,ofithe-jourpal box.

The undampened vibration Kand YWear causes a loosening of thelidof-conventional'structure and .a reduction. ofthe Y'closing springpressure thereby permitting the vlijd to apf slightly open with thevibration, andlet dust,dirt,-cinders, foreign material and moistureenter thebox and come in contact with the journal and' its1bear'ing.

The vprincipal object `of thepresent` invention is to provide ajournalbox structurewhich isjfree of the above mentioneddefects.

. Anotherohiect .iS to .prv..fle..an;irr,1provedg i-Qllrnal box -closurelid. structure -whereinlthe `.usual concentrated ,pressure areasubstantially eentrally of the'. lidis. eliminated.

.Another..object.istdprovide an improvedlosure1.id...structure .whehiincludesea .vibratiennd 1 "1L Claims. (01."308-47 shockeabsorloing y=lenflent Yas an ,integral part thereof.

Alf urtllr 0.191 ect Lis' to, provide an improved closuljejli'dstructure which willremain rmly seatedv on'itsjjournalbox"face with asubstantially'const antand uniform pressure regardless of vibrationahidshock occasionedloy the passingpft-he truck wheels over regularly spacedrailjoints orotherirregularities.

A'Lfurther object of )theinvention is to provide" ani improved closurelid structure which substantially `will not vibrate, and pound onL theface of the journalbog;Wherebyventry'of foreign matter and Vwear betweenVthe contacting surfaces and the hinge elements ,is prevented.

dAnother-olojectl is tofprovidean improved-closure KVlid structurewhereby a constant and uniformly distributed pressure contact betweenY-the'` closurelid --and the `lface ofs'the journal boX1is obtained,regardless -of -anyinaccuracies-in the alignment -of rthe hingedconnection therebetween.

'Aurtherobjeet is toprovide an improved clos-vv ure=lid-structure whiehfby reasonv of f its'l freedomA from A vibrationandshock, permits theefficient use ofifa--gasket-fbetween theI closure lid-and the journalbox face Awhen' desirable or necessary.

Gther andv furthery objects of the invention will appear from vthefollowing description, the aceompanyingsdrawings*and the appendedclaims.

`Referring to fthe-drawings formingra part of this'a-pplication closure'IidstruCture;

Fig.; '2- is' aJ fragmentary detaiL-view in section of*the-ho'odand-associated;'parts -With-v the' spring disc Vundeieete'd`Fig. i:3 is I an nenlarged fragmentary ltransverse sectionalview-takenon the-line III-IIIV of Figfl Fig. 4 is ian Yenlarged verticalsectional-*view 'Fig. L5 v'is *afforeshortened fenlarged side view` Thehinge. lug ,isfamelikeconfiguration having angularlyrelated @am,Surfaces ,i3 and I4...an.d hasV .a ..transrersepbere s l`5. extendingthrough .the lug inwhiohisdisposeda 11i-.nee pin 1.6.

.-A ,closure lid. structurels. .connected ,to the iO-.ur-

nlLhOXhytl-ie.hingepint. .Theclosure'lidfstrucf.

3 ture includes a lid I1 for closing the access opening II, a hood IBfor supporting the lid I1, a spring I9 between the hood and lid, andconnecting means, indicated generally by the reference .l

numeral 2U, for articulating the hood and lid.

The hood I8 is provided at its top with eyes 2I at an intermediate pointwith a transverse cylindrical spring seat 22 and at its lower endportion with a ball or semi-spherical knob 23. Two transversely spacedholes 24 are provided between the seat 22 and knob 23. The knob 23 isdisposed at the center of the access opening II and has a central oraxial orifice 25. A strengthening ange 25 surrounds the knob 23 andblends into the remainder of the hood.

In the drawings a pressed steel hood-lid construction is shown, by wayof example. All parts of the connecting means 2G are first secured tothe hood, forming a unit for attachment to the lid. In accordance withthe present invention, the connecting means 2o includes a flat annularplate 21, provided with a large central aperture 28 and diametricallyopposite radial projections or ears 29 integral therewith. A spring disc3G of a diameter slightly smaller than plate 21, and provided with acentral aperture 3I slightly smaller than the aperture 28, is disposedin concentric facing relation with the plate 21 on the semi-sphericalknob 23, with the disc 39 inwardly of the plate 21. They are retained onthe knob 23 by a relatively small dished washer 32 secured to the knob23 by a rivet 33 passing through the washer 32 and the orice 25 of theknob 23. The disc 39 and plate 21 are loosely secured on the knob by thewasher in the clearance space 34 provided by the diverging oppositefaces of the knob and washer. The spring disc is shown, by way ofexample, as a Belleville spring disc, which is normally conical in itsundeiiected state, as shown in Fig. 2, but which iiattens underdefiection, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Furthermore, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the central aperture 22in the aforesaid plate 2'! is of a size, in relation to thesemi-spherical knob 23, to provide substantial clearance therebetween.However, the central aperture 3I in the spring disc 39 is ofV such sizeas to Permit only partial entry therein of the knob 23 whereby theclosure force normally exerted by the hood I3, in response to the springI9, is applied to the spring disc 39 axially thereof, as will later bedescribed, while at the same time permitting limited universal movementof the spring disc 39 on the convex surface of the knob 23 relative tothe hood I8.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, the closure lid I1 isprovided centrally thereof with an outwardly facing frusto-conicalpocket 35 terminating in a shouldered annular plane surface providing aseat 33 for the spring disc 30. Seat 36 is inwardly of the outer face ofthe lid I1 so that the spring disc 39 is housed in the pocket 35 and sothat the plate 21 can be fiush on the lid outer face. The lid isconnected to the aforesaid semi-spherical knob 23 of the hood I8 by theattachment of the annular plate 21 to the lid by means of rivets 31 inthe ears 29 whereby the spring disc 3U, also carried by thev knob 23, isinitially compressed with its marginal portion seated on the seat 35.

As thus attached, the closure lid I1 is free for limited articulation,with the attached annularv plate 21 and spring disc 3) as a unit,relative tov the supporting hood I3 and the journal box I Il, with thespring disc 30 suiciently free to normally flex relative to the plate 21and the lid I1 whereby vibrational forces transmitted tothe closure lidfrom the vehicle truck are substantially damped. The closure lid I1 isfurther provided with a I linear rib 38, which extends parallel with,adjacent to and about the margins of the lid on the inner face thereof'to impart rigidity thereto, and serving to deect a lubricant from thecontacting surfaces of the journal box Il) and lid I1.

' As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the marginal edge portions of theclosure lid I1 are turned substantially at right angles thereto whereby,when the lid I1is in-normal closed position, the turned marginal flanges39 overlap the outer margins defining the Journal box I9, in slightlyspaced relation thereto so that water and dirt are excluded from passageat the juncture between the journal box face and the inner face of theclosure lid.

The uppermost flange 39 of the closure lid I1 has its intermediateportion cut away and the remaining spaced ends, thus formed, are shearedfrom the lid proper for a short distance therealong and bent upwardly atright angles to provide a pair of suitably spaced, upstanding tabs 4I).The upper hinged end portion of the supporting hood I8 is receivedfreely between the tabs 40 and substantial rotary movement of theclosure lid I1 relative to the hood I8 and the journal box IB isprevented.

The lowermost iiange 39 of the closure lid includes an intermediatereversely bent portion forming a depending finger piece or tab 4I whichmay Vbe manually grasped for opening and closing the lid I1. If desired,tab 4I may be eliminated, as shown in the modification of Fig. 6, andthe hood provided with a depending lever 4 I a, so that all forcesrequired to open and close the lid structure will be applied to the hoodonly.

The spring I9 is shown, by way of example, as a double torsion springhaving coils 42 disposed on the seat 22, a loop 43 engaging, through aroller 44, the cam lug I2, and depending legs 45 extending through theholes 24 and exerting` A their force on the hood at the inner peripheryof these holes. The ends of the legs 45 are bent slightly to aid insecuring them in the holes 24. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the spring iswound to provide a wide loop 43 for a long roller 44. This reduces theamount of roller pressure and wear on the y@am face I3.

The pressure of the spring I9 is transmitted to the lid I1 by means ofthe knob 23 pressing against the center of the spring disc 30, thespring v disc 39 pressing at its peripheral margin against the lid seat36 and forcing the lid tightly against the box face.

The lid structure is shown in operative position in Fig. 4. It has beenshown vertically but actually the box face is slightly inclined. The lidmay engage the solid metal face 46 of the box surrounding the accessopening II or a resilient gasket 41 may be attached to the underside ofthe lid at a recessed portion 48 thereof for engaging the solid metalface 46. In conventional lid structures gaskets have provenunsatisfactory due to the pounding they receive, but in the lidstructure of the present invention where vibration and pounding isdampened, a gasket may be used advantageously.

When the lid structure is in service, the washer 32 and the plate 21 areout of contact with the hood I8 and spring disc 30, as can be clearlyseen in Fig. `4, so that no wear can occur due to relative movement ofthese parts respectively. The lid is-imperforate so that it seals thebox com- 530.1912@ lmtediby :the ...the anee 26 surrounding.hedrnobi-Sfandfthe described, iwhich includeetheauniversal ,ballfand.socket .articulation efiected Matha-knob .23,-the

Vcentral pressure` ,of tha-.knob c`against.the spring disc A3i)transmitteditor the; lidfclose ato the v inner edges of the box accessopening, theashock and ,vibration-absorbing.. characteristiesot the?spring disc 3i), and the .freedomfjotl movement .without freedom -forrattling cisti-ie 'nartslfatbef connecting-means.

When the lid fstructureaisi inr-onengnositionf. the

:spring f disc f3.0 maintains stherparts thereof in spring-pressedengagement-so tnatsthev Qcanrnoirattle or becomemisalgned. The. tabs4.Mijprelvent unauthorized-rotationof.theg.lid: relatiaezto thephoodabout the axisioffthe rivets33nand-rota .tionszof the.lid;relative-donne: hoodaabouttransverse andlongitudinal-crossingsaxesthroneh .the

pointof contact oith noo/..231andvsnrinezdisc learanoe between adjacent.portionSrofsthe-nlate 2.1. ..When :theal-id is :swung open,` itsirotatioelativeftotthei-zhoadois limited-by; engagement-o 'better-moi tnerhoodwiththeplatel. itiisasvruneclosedrthe `rotationis .limited-:byeneagementfofz-.tbe top:of the lid with; the; adjacent portions of the 5hood ue cto l;.o.p.enir1 g and closing stresses :er Educ zto springclosure pressure, is prevented frbyjhe Slirengthenihg' the lid4-loyzzthe rib fgthernlate 1 -f,and;thefp0cket 35. Bending ofi-.thehoodtatifthe..nobza23iis prevented by the strengthening effect-of; the.knob 23, theflange .12.6-1andthe;factrthatztliehood side ,wallsdependeto the-.vicinityofztheiknoh 23.

The spring discnfis '.designedfgtoseliminate rt-he vibration. -ofthe'lid: onzthea'bexaandereducecwear at allcontactzpoi-ntsof'fthellidrassemblyz-.andi box, inasmuch .asftheinertiafiorces-:engen'deredz by the vibrations will .act only @ontheihoorliarrda pressure actuating parts of :therassembly::sincerthe.spring dise .30 Willfexduringevibrations:andfabsorbthe if energy ofv.the inertia .'-forcesfso ',thatl :onlyI a :small portion; of .the totalinertia' forceszactingk onnthe k'Whole box.k lid assembly .Willsactonithe lidi t1 fan'd,

in this case, Pthe .pressure fof l"t-he :spring 'ilr9'is more than-adequate'tohkeepethe lid inf'f'ull-contact withy the box A'facefl vAllthe-parts adjacent Athe spring disc-30are yshaped andforme'dswastof-permitfirll and-ade- Vwhen itis undergoingvits deflectionor-Vibration in service. The spring Adisct3'0 'is ,of suchloaddeflection characteristics that "there will be Ilittleor no changeinload duringthefrangeof its service movement when;it..is vibrating,so'that vibrations. The app1ication.of .t.he, spring..c1osing force atpoints remote from the actual center vthere will vbe ,little r.orne.change inthe pressure 30 of the lid permits the use of lighter weightma- 5 terials, Without;saoricefofqstrength.

While there has been hereinbefore described an approved embodiment othjsinventiomjitr will be understood that many and various changes andmodincationsin iormarnangementrof parts and details of constructiontheneonmay be madefwthout departing from the spirit uof theinvention.and that `Aall such changesgandmodications as fall Within the scope ofthe appended claims are contemplated as a part of this invention.l

.eured by LettersPatentis :A

1. .A journal box structure `'connor-ising anjopen face journal lboxhaving ahingejlug anda front lwall framing its openface;andfasclosurastructure hinged to said lue, -;ino1udine az-1 id @losingsaidloomV a hood, a pressure. springnisposed beitween -said hoodandirlid-forjforciliggsad lidato- -Ward saidxbox,A a. discdisposedfbetvveen thegfhood ari-oll lid,zthe disc; having acentralportiom engagingthe hood-and periphera1 Kportion eng-aging Vthelid adjacent y .the .wa l l, the e hoo d spring and lug Ibeiriie Iassociated toatransmitthe clos-ing pressure 'of. said spring to sa-id-vdisc ;at v its center 'whereby :the closingpressure of; said Spring is.transmitted to vSaid l-idfat .portions adjacent said wall, and 4meanslloosel-y securing .SadrhQQi idsc, 2.31.16. lid .tQethen :2. A journallooxstructure comprisingranfopen tace journal box having n hirige.-:luggand a front avail framing its open face; and aaeiosuresstruc'-tureliineed tesa-id lug, incl-udine.failidfelosing said box, ahoods;pressurezspri-ng disposedbetween said lioodand lidfor: orcing'thelowergend portion ofsaid hood toward: said lid,; aspring discdisposedbetween the hood andylidithe discrhaving ,a centralportionengaging .the-hoodaand f a 4peripheral portion rengaging jtheg'lidf.- adj-acent the wall, the hood, spring, and:lugrbeingzassociatedtotransmit the closing pressure -of the spring to thedisc at itscenterl-wherebytkie eloeliglpiessure ,ofzsaid-sspring 'is transmitted'to saidgilid'at portions :adjacent Said Wall, zand .meansloosely-.securing the hooddisc, and lid together. y

f3. A fournal .box- Strncturecornprising anonen tace Journal ooXbavinsrafhinge lug'izand aLiront v.wall framing f its open face; and a.closure. :strucL ture hinged to said lug; including a lideldsing :saidbox, fa hood, a -pressure spring .y x;iisnosed. between .Saldi hood vandlid, vto force the lower end portion of said hood tovrardsaidlid,azspringndiscdisposed centrally of vsaid fonenifacefand; engaging atyitsperipherygwithfsaid lidfand-atfits center with; said -hoodwherebycthegclosing pressure of said Spring is transmitted to saidlidaat portions 4adjacent :said Wall and :vibrations :and :shocksiemanating insaidlid -are dampened,. andfmeans Connecting said hood andlid. i

14.A journal boxstructure .comprising an open 'acefiolillnalbox havinga:hinge lugrand a iront --Walliframng itsopen face.; ,andza .closurestrucvture hinged to said lug, including -a lid closing -said box, a hood,. a pressureispringsdisposed.be- .tweenv said hood .and lid,forcingzthelowerf-end portonof said; hood.' toward- .said 1id,a .springdisc Adisposed centrallyof said. openface and mount- ;ed under tensione;to :exercise 1an inward fforce .at its periphery upon said lidadjacentathe ,Wall/.and ,to exert at its central i portion -anroutwardforce upon-the hood, vmeans; connectingsai'd 'disc ati its center ,withsaidhood'for limited universal movementzrelative thereto fandmeansloosely .securing ASaid hood, disc, and lid together.

3 5. A;journalbox strncturecomprising ari-open :faceriournaljboxhavingga hingerlug and Yafront fwallff'raming its opengfacepandfaclosure struc.- ture ih inged to` said :1ug, including :1a :lid "closingsadrhox afhood, a pressuresspringfdisposedbe- ;iiween said hood l:andzlid, forcingnthe a lower end portionpf; said hood; towardsaid: lid, ayspring 'disc inounteddlnder tensionbetweenr'che hood :andthe lidso:ithata .constant inwardbias s is '-eXertedib-y the disc at itsvperipheryi againste-the i lid adjacent the Wall and a constant outwardbias is exerted by the central portion of the disc against the hood,means connecting said disc at its center with said hood for limteduniversal movementI relative thereto whereby the closing pressure ofsaid spring is transmitted to said lid at portions adjacent said walland vibrations and shocks emanating in said lid are dampened, and meansloosely securing the hood, disc, and lid together.

6. A journal box lid structure comprising a hood provided at its lowerend with a ball-type knob; a closure lid provided with an outwardlyfacing central pocket therein terminating in a plane surface parallel tothe outer face of said lid; a pressure spring disposed between said hoodand lid; av resilient thrust plate pivoted on said knob by means of acentral opening therein for limited universal movement thereon; meanssecured to said knob for retaining said thrust plate thereon; and aclamping plate disposed on said knob outwardly of said thrust plate andsecured to said lid whereby said thrust plate is maintained between saidclamping plate and lid with its marginal portion seated on said planesurface for transmitting the force of said pressure spring from sai knobto said lid at said plane surface.

7. A journal box lid structure comprising a hood provided at its lowerend with a ball-type knob; a closure lid provided with an outwardlyfacing central pocket therein terminating in a plan'e surface parallelto the outer face of said lid; a pressure spring disposed between saidhood and lid; a spring disc pivoted on said knob by means of a centralopening therein for limited universal movement thereon; means secured tosaid knob for retaining said spring disc thereon; and a clamping platedisposed adjacent said knob outwardly of said spring disc and secured tosaid lid whereby said spring disc is compressed between said clampingplate and lid with its marginal portion seated on said plane surface fortransmitting the force of said pressure spring from said knob to saidlid at said plane surface.

8. A journal box lid structure comprising a hood provided at its lowerend with a ball-type knob; a closure lid provided with an outwardlyfacing central pocket therein terminating in a plane surface parallel tothe outer face of said lid; a pressure spring disposed between said hoodand lid; a spring disc having a central opening therein engaging saidknob for limited universal movement thereon; means secured to said knobfor retaining said spring disc thereon; and a clamping plate disposedadjacent said knob outwardly of said spring disc and secured to said lidwhereby said spring disc is maintained between said clamping plate andlid with its marginal portion seated on said plane surface fortransmitting the force of said pressure spring from said knob to saidlid at said plane surface.

9. In combination, a journal box, provided with a hinge lug and anaccess opening; a hood provided with a semi-spherical lower end portion,pivotally connected to said lug; a torsion spring associated with saidhood and lug whereby said hood is held in either open or closedposition; a centrally apertured spring disc pivoted on the inner convexsurface of said semi-spherical end portion for limited universalmovement relative to and in the plane of said hood; means looselyrestraining said spring disc on said semi-spherical end portion; aclosure lid normally closing said access opening, provided with anoutwardly facing dished central portion defining an annular surface inthe plane of and inwardly of the outer face c l 8 Y of said lid; anannular plate provided with a central clearance opening disposed aboutsaid semispherical end portion between said hood and said spring disc;Aand ineans securing said annular plate centrally to said lid in spacedrelation to said semi-spherical end portion whereby said disc spring ismaintained under compression therebetween with its marginal portionseated on said annular plane surface. A

l0. In combination, a journal box provided with a hinge lug and anaccess opening; a hood provided at its lower end with a semi-sphericalknob, pivotally connected to said lug; a torsion spring co-operativelyassociated with said hood and lug whereby said hood is held in eitheropen or closed position; a spring disc provided with a central aperturethereinl partially receiving said semispherical knob in ball and socketrelation; means secured to said knob including a washerlooselyrestraining-said disc for limited universal movement thereonrelative to and in the plane of said-hood; a clamping ring having adiameter greater than the normal diameter of said disc and diametricallyopposite radially extending ears thereon,l disposed between said hoodand disc in co-axial facing relation; a closure lid for said accessopening provided with an outwardly facing central cavity defining ashouldered annular surface in the plane of and inwardly of the outerface thereof disposed in facing relation with said disc with themarginal portion of said disc seated on said annularsurface and withsaid clamping ring disposed on said lid centrally thereof, said annularsurface being in close proximity to the defining `wall of said accessopening; and means securing said ring earsA to said 'lid whereby saiddisc is initially compressed between said clamping ring and said lid andconnected directly to said hood, and said hood is yieldably connected tosaid lid for transmissionof the force of said torsion spring from saidhood to said annular surface.

1l. A journalbox structure comprising a journal box having a cam lug anda front wall defining an access opening; a hood hinged to said lug andhavingat its lower end a ball-type knob disposed centrally of saidopening; a closure lid for said opening seated on said wall and havingan outwardly, facing central pocket terminating in an annular seatconcentric with said knob parallel to the outer face of said lid, and inclose proximity to said wall; a pressure spring compressed between saidhood and lug; a spring disc universally mounted on said knob with itsmarginal portion seated on said seat for transmitting the force of saidpressure spring from said knob to said lid in close proximity to saidwall; and a clamping plate disposed loosely on said knob outwardly ofsaid disc and rigidly secured to said lid, initially compressing saiddisc between said clamping plate and lid, said disc maintaining saidhood and lid in spring-pressed engagement even when open and absorbingshocks and vibrations transferring from said lid to said hood.

ALBIN K. STRANDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,266,694 Weber Dec. 16, 19412,349,973 McCormick May 30, 1944

